Male Divine, Article Review Example

“Heroes, Saints and Sages” by Colleen Morton Busch is an account of a number of ancient Indian divinities. Although they might seem to belong to mythology and not to the modern world, understanding their nature gives an invaluable insight into some yoga practices and poses named after these divinities and helps a yoga practitioner to rise from the level of physical excellence to spiritual enlightenment.

Busch starts his account with the story of a fierce warrior Virabhadra who embodies the idea of revenge. Together with his sister Kali, he was sent to take revenge for their mother’s death. However, a deeper consideration of his image reveals the fact that his struggle was in fact against people’s inflated egos.

Busch proceeds with the story of Vasistha, a son of the god Brahma who was divine by birth, and Vishvamitra, who was only a king and from the onset spiritually inferior to Vasistha. The two sages fought for a precious cow Nandini which could fulfill wishes. Not only was it a battle of two powers, but also of two great spirits. In the course of the competition Vishvamitra strove for enlightenment and spiritual grace which he finally obtained to the admiration of Vasistha.

Astavakra is a traditional epitome of an impudent yet gifted son who is pursued by his father out of jealousy and wrath. His father’s curse caused Astavakra to be born disabled. However, so sage and was he, that people came to admire him despite his physical deficiencies.

Hanuman, the monkey god, is an embodiment of devotion and noble motives. To do King Rama’s errand, he performed marvelous deeds.

Matsyendra and his disciple Goraksha are the revered founders of hatha yoga. Matsyendra seems to have been a historical figure, yet he was believed to be an incarnation of Avalokiteshvara, the bodhisattva of compassion. Matsyendra had the honour to listen to the voice of Shiva himself who told him about the esoteric practices of yoga. His student Goraksha was born from magical ashes given by Shiva to his mother who was at that time childless and wanted a child desperately. However, the woman did not believe in the miracle and threw the ashes away. Twelve years later Matsyendra persuaded her to find the ashes, but instead of them she found a twelve-year-old son.

Reference

Busch, C. M. (2004, May/June). Heroes, saints, and sages. Yoga Journal, (181), 120